Photographic camera



I PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA Filed Sept. 29 1924 Fig.1

- 4 Shee1:s--Shee1'. 1

Dec. 21 1926.

mm Tm SA NC, m mm Rm m H Filed Sept. 29. 1924 4. Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec; 21 1926. 1,611,344

H. H. FRAUENSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA Filed Sept. 29, 1924 T 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Car Dec. 21 1926.

Filed se t. 29. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4r Patented D... 21,1926. 1,611,344

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN HUGO FRAUENS'IEIN, F DRESDEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB TQ THE FIRM: IHAGEE KAMERAWERK STEENBERGEN & 60., 0F DBESDEN, GERMANY.

rnoroozaarmc cartnna. Appllcation'filed September 29,1924, Serial No. 740,661, and in'Germany February 26, 1824.

My invention relates to a reflex-camera and adapted to be engaged by the end of a strut more particularly to a folding camera in 11. A bellows 8 is secured to the casing 1, which the lens board is automatically shifted theframe' 2 and the camera front 6. when the camera is being folded. The correct relative position of the sev- It is an object of my invention to provide eral parts of the camera is brought about 60 "a camera of the kind described in which the by means of links and levers 9, and 11. bellows is adapted to be folded on diagonal A double armed lever 9 is fulcrumed to the lines and in which the unfolding of the camera front 6 at 9 its ends being connected bellows is effected'b means comprising a with the frame 2 at 9 and a strut 10 at 9 10 pair ofdouble-armed levers so as to hold respectively. The strut 10 is pivotally con-' 65 the camera front parallel to the case of the necte'd at 11 withthe strut 11 which is fulcamera in any osition during the. unfoldin 'crumed on the case 1 at 14 and carries on its operation,- and to provide a lens boar freeend a pin 15 engaging a slot 16 at the which is movable on said camera front and side of the camera front 6.

g 15 is operatively connected to one of said levers The free end of stru't 10 carries a pin 12 7 so as to be displaced in accordance with the engaging a curved slot 13 inthe camera case, various stages of the folding operation. a substantially circular extension 13 at its It is another object of my invention to upper end extending rearW-ards so asto lock' provide a frame for supporting the mirror the pin 12 when the camera is opened as 0 in its operative position at an angle of exshown in Fig. 3. Pin 12 is held in the ex- 75 actly 45 degrees, means being also provided tension 13' by means of a spring 17 secured for inoving'the mirror out clear of the opto the strut 10 and adapted to be engaged by tical axis when operating the trig er which a shoulder 18 on the strut 11 when the actuates the shutter. I also provide mechacamera is open. The ireaction of the spring 5 nism for locking the mirror in its raised 17 holds the pin. 12 firinly in the extension. position and for automatically unlocking it The inner ends of the struts 10 and 11 are so as to move it out of the way when the concealed in a recess 1' of the casing 1 which camera is being folded. also receives part of the mechanism shownin In the drawings affixed to this specification Fig. 4. Obviously the struts and other parts and forming part thereof a camera embodymay also be arranged in any other convenient 85 ing my invention is illustrated diagranrway, and the folding and opening mechamatically by way of example. nism will preferably be duplicated on the In the drawings other side of the camera. Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the camera When the camera shall be folded, pin 12 is in folded condition. I

Fig. 2 is a similar view. showing the reaction of the spring 17 by an u ward prescamera partly opened. sure exerted on the strut 11, an is then de- Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the pressed so that it enters the slot 13 and the camera ready for use. camera can be folded by swinging frame 2 Fig. 4 is an elevationof the mirror operdown onto the front. of the case 1. 95 ating mechanism, partly in section. The mirror 28 isfulcrumed in the case 1 at Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the posi 28" and tends to move downwards into opertion of the mirror frame in relation to the atlve position by grav1ty at under the action camera front. of a spring (not shown). It is supported Fig. 6 is an isometric view of part-of the by a frame comprising two bars 48, one of mirror frame. which is shown separately in F1 6,.th1s

A frame 2 sup orting a ground lass frame being designed to support t e mirror screen (not visible a focussing hoo 21 exactly at an angle on of to the optical above this screen and a sky shade. 20, is axis XX of the camera.

' hinged to the case 1 of the camera at 3. The The bars48 are pivoted at one end to the lens 4 which, when the camera/is closed, is camera front 6 at 48' and are guided in slotprotected by the folded-down sky shade 20 ted guides 50 at the camera case 1 by pins ..--iaso,will be seen in Fig. l is secured to a lens 49. The mirror 28 is sup orted on In 51 board 5, which is uided in slots 7 at the projectin on the inside o each bar 4 A camera front 6 emf provided with a. lug 5' ever 29 fbrraismg' the mirror is fulcrumed removed from the extension 13' against the in the case 1 at 30, a lever 31 being rigidly secured. to the pivot pin, and a Ii 32 pivoted to the free end of this lever. A dog 33 on link 32 projects through a slot 34 in the camera case 1. a A trigger 35 fulcrumed on the case at 36 serves for operating the shutter which may be a focal plane shutter. The'mechanism by which the shutter is operated is of usual construction and therefore not described nor illustrated. It will be understood that the trigger 35 is disposed on the outside of the camera, not inside as might be inferred from Fig. 4 where it is shown in full lines for the sake of convenience. I

" When an exposureshall be made, the trigger 35 is depressed and the shutter is operated for instantaneous or time exposure.

- The trigger 35 engages the dog 33 and moves the link 32 downwards, raising the mirror 28 by means of the levers. 31 and 29 which are fulcrumed in the case 1 at 30. On the trigger being released the mirror would return to its initial position if it were not released by the tooth 27 of the ratchet wheel shutter.

locked by a catch 37 fulcrumed on the case 1 at 38 and provided with a pull-back spring 39. Under the action of this spring a shoulder 40 at the lower end of the catch 37 engages the dog 33 of the link 32 and the mirror is held in its aised position until it is The shutter (not shown) is wound by means of the key 22. Two ratchet wheels 25 and 26 are secured on the key shaft, these wheels 25 and 26 being shown out of register in Fig. 4 for the sake of clearness but being coaxial in reality. The inner wheel 25 has a tooth 27 for engaging the catch 37. -Each wheel co-operates with one blind of the When an exposure] has been made the wheel-25 rotates clockwise and its tooth 27 causes the catch 37 to release the dog 33 of the link so that the mirror returns to its initial position and the camera is ready for focussing.

It is important that the mirror be disposed of before the camera is folded as any attempt to foldthe camera while the mirror is locked in its operative position, would cause it to be damaged. In order to prevent this, a slide 45 arranged in a recess of'the camera case is provided with 'a pin 45 so as to be raised by the adjacent strut 10 01210 respectively.

In Fig. 4 the strut 1-0 which operates the slide 45 is not shown, being mounted in front of the mechanism, but the strut 10 shown is in exactly the same position.

- Ifit is desired'to fold the camera, one of the struts 1001' 10 must'be raised slightly and, in being so raised, it engages the pin 45' and raises the slide 45. A double-armed lever 46 fulcrumed onthe casing 1 at 47 is its other end co-operates with a cam 37' of the catch 37. It will be understood that on raising the slide 45 the end of the lever 46 will engage "the cam 37 and 'force the catch 37 to the left, thereby releasing the dog 33 and allowing the mirror to drop as described. Ina camera according to myinvention the bellows can be folded diagonally, whereby the camerais made very compact, so that it. combines a very simple and strong construction with small bulk while preserving all the advantages of the reflex camera. Due to its simplicity the operation of the camera is also very easy and reliable. Another advantage of this camera is the movable lens board which allows the lens to be shielded by the frame 2 when the camera is folded. 'No dirtcan get access to the lens nor can. it be damaged while the camera is being handled. When the camera is open, the extension serves as a sky shade so that a separate shade can be dispensed with.

y invention provides an absolutely reliable operation of the mirror and prevents any accidents in case that the camera be folded while the mirror is still in its initial position. It isfu rther important that the mirror be released when making time exposures.

' I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to :be limited to the exact details of construction shown'and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in .the art.

I claim: 1. Folding reflex scam-era comprising a case, a focussing hood frame hinged to said 'said case and a lens boardmovable on said camera front and operatively connected -to one of said levers.

- 2. Folding reflex camera comprf case, a focussing hood frame'hinged to said case, a diagonallyfoldable bellows fixed to said case and to said frame, a camera front connected with said bellows, means pivotalsing a ly connected with saidcase, said frame and said camera front respectively for guiding the latter and for holding it parallel to. saidcase, when said frame is swung away from 0 C said case,a lens board movable on'said camera front and operatlvely connected Wltll said g'uidm r means, and an extension on said frame placmg itself in front of said lens board, when the camera is folded.

3. Folding reflex camera comprising a case, a focussin hood frame hinged to said case, adiagona y foldable bellows fixed'to said. ca e and t a d fr me. a erafront connected with said bellows, a pair of scissorlike connected levers, one being fulerumed, the other-being guided on said case and a third double armed lever pivoted to said camera front, said frame and the free end of said guided lever.

4. Folding reflex camera comprising a case, a focussmg hood frame lunged to sald case, a diagonally. foldable bellows fixed to said case and to said frame, a camera front connected with said bellows, a pair of SClS- -sor-like connected levers, one being fulcrumed, the other being guided on said case and a third double armed lever pivoted to i said camera front and having its longer arm pivotally connected to said frame, the ishorter one to the free end of said guided ever. 7

5. Folding reflex camera comprising a case, a focussing hood frame, hinged to said case, a diagonally foldablebellows fixed to said case and to said frame, a. camera front connected with said bellows, a pair of scissor-like connected levers, one being fulcrumed, the other being guided on said case, a third double armed lever pivoted to said camera front and havin its longer arm pivotally connected to sai frame, the shorter one to the free end of said guided lever and a lens board movable on said camera front and operatively connected with the free end of said fulcrumed lever.

6. Folding reflex -camera comprising a case, a focussing hood frame hinged to'said case, a diagonally foldable bellows fixed to said case and to said frame, a camera front connected with said bellows, means pivotally connected with said case, said frame and said camera front respectively for guidin the latter and for holding it parallel to sai case, when said frame is swun away from said case, a mirror hinged to said-frame and a mirror lifting lever mounted on said frame for rocking motion. v

7. Folding reflex camera comprising 'a case, a focussin hood frame hinged to said case, a diagonafiy foldable bellows fixed to said case and to said frame, a camera front connected with said bellows, means pivotally connected with-said case, said frame and said camera front respectively for guiding the latterandfor holding it parallel to said case, when said frame is lswung'away from said case, amirror hinged to said frame, a mirror lifting lever mounted on said frame for rocking motion, a shutter, a trigger for oper-' at'ing said shutter and an operative connection between said trigger and said lifting lever.

rocking motion, means for 100 8. Folding reflex camera comprisin a case.

and to said frame, a camera front connected with said bellows, means pivotally connected with said case, said frame and said camera front respectively for guiding the latter and for holding it parallel to said case,.when said frame is swung away from said case, a mirror hinged to said frame, a mirror lifting lever mounted on said frame for rockin motion and a mirror suplport having one en guided in parallel wit other end pivoted to said lens front.

9. Folding reflex camera comprising a case, a focussi hood frame hinged to said case, a diagona ly foldable bellows fixed to said case and to said frame, a camera front connected with said bellows, means pivotally connected with said case, saidframe and said lens front respectively for guiding the latter and for holding it parallel to said case when said frame is swung awayfrom said case,

a mirror hinged to said frame, a mirror lift ing lever mounted on said frame for rocking- .motion and means for locking said lifting lever in o erative position.

10. Fol ing reflex camera comprising a case, a focgssing hood frame hinged to said case, a diagonally foldable bellows fixed to said'case and to said frame, a camera front connected with said case, said frame and said lens front respectively for aiding the latter and for holding it parafiel to said case,- when said frame is swun away from said case, a mirror hinged to saidfram'e, a mirror lifting lever mounted on said frame for said lifting lever in operative position, a s utter and means associated with said shutter for releasing said locking means.

11. Folding reflex camera comprising a case, a focussin hood frame hinged to said case, a diagona ly foldable bellows fixed to said case and to said frame, a camera front connected with 1d bellows, means compns-.

ing a pair of double armed levers pivotally connected with said case, said frame and said camera front res actively for guidin the latter and for hol ing it parallel to sai case, when said frame is swung away from said case and a lens board movable in par-' allel on said camera front and operatively connected to one of said levers. p In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ammm auco FRAUENSTEIN.

said case and the connected with said bellows, means pivotally lie 

